August 9, 2003 - Yahoo News: Ethiopia RPCV and State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi drops out of California Governor's race

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: August 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: August 9, 2003 - Yahoo News: Ethiopia RPCV and State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi drops out of California Governor's race

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 10:07 am: Edit Post

Ethiopia RPCV and State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi drops out of California Governor's race





Caption: California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, a former Democratic state senator, answers questions from reporters in Sacramento, Calif., after he announced he would drop his bid for governor Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, hours before the deadline to file his candidacy papers in the October recall election. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)


Read and comment on this story from Yahoo News that Ethiopia RPCV and California State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on Saturday reversed his decision to run for governor in the recall election, but denied that he felt pressured out by fellow Democrats worried about losing the governor's office at:

Democrat Denies Pressure in Calif. Recall*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Democrat Denies Pressure in Calif. Recall
Sat Aug 9, 9:25 PM ET

By JENNIFER COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on Saturday reversed his decision to run for governor in the recall election, but denied that he felt pressured out by fellow Democrats worried about losing the governor's office.

AP Photo

"I know firsthand that this recall election has become a circus," Garamendi told reporters. "I have concluded I will not engage in this election as a candidate."

His decision left Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante as the sole high-level Democrat remaining in the race to replace Democratic Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites), if the recall vote is successful.

Some Democrats, fearful that a split vote could cost them the governor's office, had urged one of the Democratic candidates to pull out.

Garamendi said Friday that some Democrats had urged him to drop out, but said Saturday that he hadn't felt pressured and made his decision after talking to voters in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"I hear the concerns of Californians that the Golden State is tarnished," he said. "I share that concern."

The Central Valley rancher has a long career in public service, including stints as state Senate majority leader and President Clinton (news - web sites)'s Interior Department negotiator to resolve California's water wars between farmers, cities and environmentalists.

He said he'll devote his time now to fight the recall effort and to accomplish his goals as insurance commissioner, the job he was elected to in November.

Bustamante said Garamendi's decision was a "very gracious act of sacrifice" that would help his "just-in-case" candidacy.

"The Democratic Party is united around the slogan that I introduced Thursday morning, no on recall, yes on Bustamante," Bustamante said. "For the next 59 days I will work as hard as I can on both parts of that campaign slogan."

He said Garamendi called him Saturday and asked if he planned to drop out. When Bustamante said he was staying in, Garamendi gave no indication he was considering pulling out of the race.

Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, called Garamendi's withdrawal "a selfless act."

"Today John deferred his dreams for the sake of a principle," Pulaski said in a statement. "Today he made a personal sacrifice in order to protect the state from a takeover by those who seek to dismantle everything he has worked for during his years of public service."




Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL

8/7/03
Call your Senator in August

Minnesota Sen. Coleman
Minnesota RPCVs should call Senator Norm Coleman and ask him to introduce an amendment to the Senate Foreign Operations Bill for President Bush's full $359M Peace Corps approriation. RPCVs from other states should call their Senators and ask them to support the amendment.
PCOL Magazine: August Issue
Greater Accountability at the Peace Corps
Send in the Peace Corps to Iraq?
House of Representatives passes Charter
Kevin Quigley named new NPCA President
Investigation on death of PCV in Mali
President Bush meets PCVs in Botswana
Friends of Liberia issue a Call to Action
Top Stories and Breaking News
Senator Coleman and PC Appropriations 7 Aug
RPCV sees deprivation and dignity in Africa 5 August
USDA honors RPCV for Heifer Intl work 4 August
Ghana RPCV returns to help leprosy victims 4 August
RPCV and spouse work to end Liberia civil war 4 August
Memorial Fund established for RPCV 4 August
PCV met President Bush in Botswana 1 August
PC celebrates anniversary in East Timor 31 July
RPCV is new director of San Isabel Foundation 31 July
Parents recall PCV Zack Merrill 30 July
RPCV writes "What India means to me" 29 July
RPCV says Liberians want American aid 29 July
Vasquez to speak in Mexico 29 July
AmeriCorps Violated Budget Law 28 July
Investigation on death of PCV 25 July
House passes $314M PC Appropriation 24 July
Send in the Peace Corps 23 July
Peace Corps to Reopen in Jordan 22 July
Peace Corps Writers announce awards 22 July
Call Now - Disaster ahead for PC Budget 21 July
PC to get $49M less than requested 17 July
House passes Peace Corps Charter Bill 16 July
House Set to Vote on new PC Bill 16 July
Sen. Coleman's Speech at PC HQ 15 July
Peace Corps mum on PCV death 15 July
Sen. Coleman to push for PC accountability 15 July
Call Congress - PC Funding in Trouble 15 July
Kevin Quigley Named new NPCA President 14 July
RPCV says US will find WMD in Iraq 13 July
President Bush meets PCVs in Botswana 12 July
House to consider Peace Corps Bill 11 July
Kennedy and the Third Goal 11 July
FDA orders Lariam warning 10 July
RPCV Artist exhibits at Corcoran in DC 10 July
Volunteer Zack Merrill dies in Mali 8 July
Friends of Liberia issue call to action 8 July
More Feature Stories from Recent Issues
A Volunteer's Courage: Health Care for RPCVs
Issues with the Peace Corps Bill in Congress
Americorps' Failure: Lessons for the Peace Corps
RPCVs dump ton of coal at US Capital
German Peace Corps celebrates 40 years
Bill Moyers talks about America's Future
Protest at the Peace Corps
Returned Volunteers honor Jack Vaughn
Alcohol Abuse a big issue for PCVs in Central Asia
Peace Corps to add 1,000 AIDS/HIV volunteers
Op-ed: The Future of the Peace Corps
Marine Sergeant says PC is "truly hardcore"
RPCV is wheelchair basketball champion
Watch Director Vasquez on web tv
Malian President Touré Speaks at PC HQ
The Shrivers: A Special Legacy
Special Reports
Exclusive: How RPCVs organized anti-war Ad
Improvements needed in Volunteer Support
From Russia with Love
Health Concerns: The Controversy over Lariam
GAO Reports on PCV Safety and Security
The Digital Freedom Initiative
PC/Washington: Senior Staff Appointments at PC HQ
PC Expansion: The Numbers Game?
Op-ed: Why Peace Corps needs Shriver's 4th Goal
When should PC return to Afghanistan?
RPCV Spy dies in Moscow
Op-ed: The Case for Peace Corps Independence
Preservation of an Independent Peace Corps
Top Discussion Stories

Send in the Peace Corps?
Should the Peace Corps be heading into Iraq and Afghanistan? What do you think?

The Fourth Goal
Read what Sargent Shriver says ought to be the Peace Corps' new goal for the 21st century.

Peace Corps Charter
Read about the new Peace Corps bill that RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps are getting through Congress.

The Numbers Game
Double the Peace Corps - but maintain the quality of the programs and the volunteer experience.

Improvements needed
...in Volunteer services. Read our exclusive story on what needs to be done to support volunteers and reduce attrition rates.

A Volunteer's Courage
After Sara Evans was assaulted she left the Peace Corps and returned to the United States. But her ordeal was only beginning.

Volunteer Safety
Read the GAO Report on Safety and Security of Volunteers.

The Lariam Files
Read about the anti-malarial drug thousands of volunteers have taken - and its potential side effects.

Accountability
Senator Norm Coleman is a strong supporter of Bush's full $359M budget request but wants greater accountability from the Peace Corps. Read why.

Protest at the Peace Corps
Do volunteers and staff retain first amendment rights while working in the Peace Corps. Join the discussion.

RPCVs organize
Read how 1,800 RPCVs organized to place two half-page ads in the New York Times.

PC is "truly hardcore"
A Marine Sergeant visited his daughter who is serving in Nicaragua. Read what he says about the Peace Corps.



Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ethiopia; Politics

PCOL7082
59

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: